Carolina Chocolate Drops - Capitol Theatre - York, PA - September 8, 2010

The Carolina Chocolate Drops played in York once before, as part of the Susquehanna Folk Music Society's York Folk Series. We were excited about their return to our fair city, especially after Mama saw them back in June at World Cafe Live in Philly. We knew they were going to sound amazing in the Capitol Theatre.

Mama: We enjoy listening to Carolina Chocolate Drops, and seeing them live is also an educational experience, because they talk a lot about the origins of the songs they play, which have evolved from traditions of slave songs sung in the fields of the American South, Piedmont blues, traditional Gaelic music, and their own contemporary influence, bridging the past and present into something new that pays reverent tribute to our musical roots.

Dom Flemons. Photo by Digital Ephemera Photography.

Carter: I like their music. They all switch instruments throughout the show and they play the banjo, the fiddle, the jug, the kazoo, and Dom plays the bones. The bones are an instrument that goes clickity-clack. Sometimes when he plays the bones he stands up and dances and it looks like he's using marionette puppets.

Mama: He does that when they play Snowden's Jig - a song they learned on a visit to York. When they were getting ready to play it, Rhiannon talked a little bit about the history of the song, which is fascinating.

Carter: During that song, the whole crowd was stomping and clapping along with them.

Mama: I also liked when Rhiannon got up and did a little softshoe kind of dancing. All the songs are just so different from each other, and since all three members of the band are very talented singers and musicians, they can switch things up for every song and the show ends up being full of all these wonderful little surprises.

Carter: My favorite instrument was the jug.

Justin Robinson. Photo by The Susquehanna Photographic.

Mama: I don't know if I could pick a favorite. I was just so impressed by how good every song sounded, with all the different combinations of instruments and who was playing them.

Carter: This sold-out show was exhilarating. I hope they come back to the Capitol again.

Carter and Dom Flemons. Photo by Digital Ephemera Photography.

Final note: Yesterday it was announced that Carolina Chocolate Drops have been nominated for a 2010 Grammy for Best Traditional Folk Album for Genuine Negro Jig. Congratulations!

Check back soon for our reviews of these live shows: Rhett Miller at the Capitol Theatre, Spoon at The Forum in Harrisburg, PA, Hoots & Hellmouth at the Mother Earth Harvest Fair, Jason & Grant from Ghost Hunters at the Pullo Center, The Felice Brothers at the Capitol Theatre, Rusted Root at the Pullo Center, Aortic Valve at ourhouse, and Langhorne Slim at the Capitol Theatre.

A Note from Carter

Dear friends, family, and followers:

My mother and I have not been very on top of our blogging lately. We apologize and we will get caught up. Thank you for your patience.

We have still been going to a lot of shows and we will try to write posts about all of them soon.

--Carter

Lee Harvey Osmond - ourhouse - York, PA - August 22, 2010

We first saw the Canadian band Lee Harvey Osmond when they opened for the Cowboy Junkies at the Capitol Theatre on Mama's birthday a few summers ago. Then we had the opportunity to see them play at our friends Pete & Lindsey's house. We kept looking around the room and thinking how awesome it was to be able to see such talented and seasoned musicians in such an intimate setting - I think there may have been less than 25 people there the last time they visited. These guys are the real deal. Big time musicians. We were thrilled when Pete & Lindsey announced that LHO would return to play their living room again.

Carter: The show was awesome. The lead singer Tom Wilson and the drummer Ray Farrugia were there, and also Aaron Goldstein, who played guitar and pedal steel. Tom's son Tommy played the bass. He let me hold his bass after the show. It was red and gold and it looked like an Iron Man bass.

Mama: They had just come from playing the Philadelphia Folk Festival, and had to leave as soon as they loaded out to head back to the Philly area.

Carter: I wonder if they got any sleep?

Mama: I don't know, but I am so glad they fit a visit to York into their schedule. And especially since it was to play at P&L's house.

Carter: Pete & Lindsey's house is a place where you can hang out with all different kinds of people. And they have a birch beer keg. AND a popcorn machine. I know how to work both.

Mama: Pete & Lindsey got a grant from the York City Artist Homestead Program when they bought their house. The program encourages homeownership within the City of York for artists looking for live/work space. Lindsey is an artist and both she and Pete are musicians. The first floor of their house is used as gallery and performance space. Lindsey's work, as well as that of other featured artists, is on display. They host bands who are traveling through or near York while they tour, giving the bands additional performance opportunities, and even a place to stay (their third-floor rock hostel is outfitted with bunk beds to give musicians a night off from crashing in their vans). The house is also set up for recording, if the bands are so inclined.

Carter: Pete & Lindsey also sometimes play music with the bands. So in the middle of the Lee Harvey Osmond show, Tom Wilson called for Pete to come and play his sax with them. It was amazing.

Mama: It was really cool. When they finished their second set, our friend requested their version of John Henry, which Tom Wilson came out into the middle of the room with all of us to sing a capella. It felt like we were transported to some tent revival in the middle of a field in the old south somewhere. It was magical.

Carter: The pedal steel had the name Carter on it. So I told the guy it was mine, and he couldn't say "I don't see your name on it." But he didn't let me have it.

Mama: I really enjoyed getting to hang out and talk with them a little bit while they were packing up.

Carter: This was a great concert. I'm very happy that I get to do this stuff even though I'm a kid.

Favorite songs at this show: Cuckoo's Nest, You Drove Me Crazy Now I'm Going to Stay That Way, and of course, John Henry.

Final note (Mama): Tom Wilson has an amazing head of hair.

Generations: Carter and his Mama with Tom Wilson and Thompson Wilson.

Check back soon for our reviews of these live shows: Carolina Chocolate Drops at the Capitol Theatre, Rhett Miller at the Capitol Theatre, Spoon at The Forum in Harrisburg, PA, Hoots & Hellmouth at the Mother Earth Harvest Fair, Jason & Grant from Ghost Hunters at the Pullo Center, The Felice Brothers at the Capitol Theatre, Rusted Root at the Pullo Center, and Aortic Valve at ourhouse.